Polar and Sub-polar Facts & figures Geography Total area: 9,494,479 km 2 Land area: 4,319,347 km 2 (45.5%) Protected land area: 3,021,801km 2 (70%) Total marine area: 5,175,132 km 2 (54.5%) Exclusive economic zone (EEZ): 5,175,132 km 2 (100%) (4) Marine protected area (MPA): 1,184,880 km 2 (22.8%) Overseas Regions: Amsterdam (FR), St Paul (FR), Crozet (FR), Kerguelen (FR), Adélie Land (FR), South Georgia (UK), South Sandwich Islands (UK), British Antarctic Territories (UK), St. Pierre & Miquelon (FR), Greenland (DK) Socio-economic facts Total population: SPM: 6,314 (2011) – 26/km² GL: 56,370 (2013) – 0.026/km² SGSSI/BAT - TAAF: 0 Main income sources: Fisheries Average annual GDP: SPM: 161,131,000€ (2007) GL: 1,198,470,000€ (2009) Biodiversity Endemic species: (137) (5) Diomedea amsterdamensis, Chionis minor, Anas eatoni, Lepidonotothen mizops, Channichtys rhinoceratus, Colobanthus kerguelensis, Phylica arborea, Poa kerguelensis, Anthus antarcticus, Bathylutichthys taranetzi, Notiomaso grytvikensis, Lecanora surrecta, … Threatened species: TAAF(22), SGSSI(12), SPM(7), GL(21), BAT(4) (6) Diomedea amsterdamensis,Thalassarche salvini, Thalassarche carteri, Eudyptes moseleyi, Diomedea exulans, Procellaria aequinoctialis, Phoebetria fusca, Cephalorhynchus commersonii, Balaenoptera musculus, Physeter macrocephalus, Pringlea antiscorbutica, Phylica arborea, Monodon monoceros, Squalus acanthias, Haliaeetus albicilla groenlandicus, Ursus maritimus, Pagophila eburnea, Puffinus griseus … Current situation & main challenges Socio-economic context French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF): This entity is formed of three groups of islands extending south of the Indian Ocean to the Southern Ocean, and includes land in the Antarctic. The only human presence is temporary and is primarily made up of military units and researchers. The main socio-economic activities are Patagonian toothfish commercial fisheries occurring in the EEZs of Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, which have become the most profitable of all French fisheries in recent years. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI): There is no resident population in SGSSI, with the small population primarily made up of researchers. Almost 80% of income is from the fisheries sector making the economy highly dependent on the health of fish stocks and the general marine environment. British Antarctic Territory (BAT): The BAT covers all land from the South Pole to 60 o S latitude and between longitudes 20 o W to 80 o W. There is no resident population but it contains three research stations, two of which are manned all year round. It is self- financing with income from the sale of postage stamps and income tax. Saint Pierre & Miquelon (SPM): This archipelago is formed of several small islands and three main islands: Saint Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade. The public sector is the main employer (70% of the population) (1) . The collapse of the cod fishery in the 1990s has triggered compensatory activities such as aquaculture, agriculture and livestock farming. Greenland (GL): This is the largest island in the world, with most (80%) being covered by ice sheet. Most of the population inhabits the SW coast. Fishing is the primary economic sector with shrimp and Greenland halibut as main fisheries. Whale and seal hunting are traditionally and economically important activities as well. While tourism is a growing sector, GL has been also in the initiating phase of mining activities and is believed to have significant oil resources that are currently under prospection (1) . Legal and political context The TAAF are a French territorial overseas collectivity since 1955 (2) . They are administered by a Prefect, High Commissioner from the headquarters in Saint Pierre (Reunion island), with a branch in Paris. SGSSI separated from the Falkland Islands as a dependency in 1985 and is now an Overseas Territory (OT) with a Commissioner as the head of Government. BAT is claimed as part of the British OTs and was formed in 1962, with historical claims dating back to 1908. It is administered by a Commissioner in the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK. SPM is a French territorial overseas collectivity with a locally elected Territorial Council, which appoints a President as head of government. However, France also appoints a Prefect. GL is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark that is self-governing since 2009 with an elected Premier who appoints the Cabinet of Ministers. Greenland joined the European Community with Denmark in 1972 but withdrew in 1985, and subsequently assumed OCT status (1) . Most territories of the hub are signatories of international environmental agreements such as the Convention on Migratory Species, RAMSAR, CITES, World Heritage Convention and International Whaling Commission.
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Polar and Sub-polar
Facts & figures Geography Total area: 9,494,479 km2 Land area: 4,319,347 km2 (45.5%) Protected land area: 3,021,801km2 (70%) Total marine area: 5,175,132 km2 (54.5%) Exclusive economic zone (EEZ):
5,175,132 km2 (100%)(4)
Marine protected area (MPA):
1,184,880 km2 (22.8%)
Overseas Regions:
Amsterdam (FR), St Paul (FR), Crozet (FR), Kerguelen (FR), Adélie
Land (FR), South Georgia (UK), South Sandwich Islands (UK), British
Antarctic Territories (UK), St. Pierre & Miquelon (FR), Greenland (DK)
Socio-economic facts Total population: SPM: 6,314 (2011) – 26/km²
GL: 56,370 (2013) – 0.026/km² SGSSI/BAT - TAAF: 0
Main income sources: Fisheries Average annual GDP:
Current situation & main challenges Socio-economic context French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF): This entity is formed of three groups of islands extending south of the Indian Ocean to the Southern Ocean, and includes land in the Antarctic. The only human presence is temporary and is primarily made up of military units and researchers. The main socio-economic activities are Patagonian toothfish commercial fisheries occurring in the EEZs of Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, which have become the most profitable of all French fisheries in recent years. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI): There is no resident population in SGSSI, with the small population primarily made up of researchers. Almost 80% of income is from the fisheries sector making the economy highly dependent on the health of fish stocks and the general marine environment. British Antarctic Territory (BAT): The BAT covers all land from the South Pole to 60oS latitude and between longitudes 20oW to 80oW. There is no resident population but it contains three research stations, two of which are manned all year round. It is self-financing with income from the sale of postage stamps and income tax. Saint Pierre & Miquelon (SPM): This archipelago is formed of several small islands and three main islands: Saint Pierre, Miquelon and Langlade. The public sector is the main employer (70% of the population)(1). The collapse of the cod fishery in the 1990s has triggered compensatory activities such as aquaculture, agriculture and livestock farming. Greenland (GL): This is the largest island in the world, with most (80%) being covered by ice sheet. Most of the population inhabits the SW coast. Fishing is the primary economic sector with shrimp and Greenland halibut as main fisheries. Whale and seal hunting are traditionally and economically important activities as well. While tourism is a growing sector, GL has been also in the initiating phase of mining activities and is believed to have significant oil resources that are currently under prospection(1). Legal and political context The TAAF are a French territorial overseas collectivity since 1955(2). They are administered by a Prefect, High Commissioner from the headquarters in Saint Pierre (Reunion island), with a branch in Paris. SGSSI separated from the Falkland Islands as a dependency in 1985 and is now an Overseas Territory (OT) with a Commissioner as the head of Government. BAT is claimed as part of the British OTs and was formed in 1962, with historical claims dating back to 1908. It is administered by a Commissioner in the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK. SPM is a French territorial overseas collectivity with a locally elected Territorial Council, which appoints a President as head of government. However, France also appoints a Prefect. GL is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark that is self-governing since 2009 with an elected Premier who appoints the Cabinet of Ministers. Greenland joined the European Community with Denmark in 1972 but withdrew in 1985, and subsequently assumed OCT status (1). Most territories of the hub are signatories of international environmental agreements such as the Convention on Migratory Species, RAMSAR, CITES, World Heritage Convention and International Whaling Commission.
National action plan for the conservation of the Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis (15)
Budget: 480,000 € (2011-2015) Activities: Long term monitoring / survey; Study of marine habitat use and interactions with fisheries; Study of terrestrial habitat; Public awareness / Communication. Results (expected): Increase the population size in the long-term. Maintain both the current rate of the total population increase and the adult survival rate. Broadcast this plan at national and global scale. Identifying important marine areas for macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in the UK and French Overseas Territories
Budget: 302,429 € (BEST initiative) Activities: a) Identify and map the most important at-sea areas for macaroni penguins around the EU OTs; b) utilize this information to inform MPA design Results: Ongoing PISUNA Project – Protecting biodiversity and creating multiple benefits for local communities in Greenland.
Budget: 320,000 € (BEST initiative) Activities: a) Enhance the protection and sustainable management of marine, terrestrial and bird resources on the part of local communities, ii) strengthen the capacity of local communities and the government to sustainably protect, manage, monitor and use natural resources, iii) to pilot innovative bottom-up approaches to natural resource management. Results: The project has built concrete capacity in a number of settlements where hunters and fishermen themselves deal with the changes in natural resources and participate in the decision making about the management of resources. The project has further strengthened local documentation and management of natural resources in Greenland. Global Management Plan of the National Nature Reserve of French Southern Lands (16)
Budget: 2,500,000 € per year (2011-present). Activities:
- Eradication/control programs of IAS on land - Improvement of waste management - Recovery actions for most endangered endemic species - Implementation of long-term monitoring of animal populations
Collaboration with research institutes to assess distribution, population size and demographic trend of the majority of wild vertebrate populations
- Reduction of impacts of fisheries on environment Results: Ongoing
Current conservation status Threats and pressures on biodiversity
- Global climate change is the primary threat on biodiversity in the polar and sub-polar hub. In GL, warming is causing great reduction of summer sea ice as well as loss of permafrost and glaciers, with significant impacts on terrestrial ecosystems as it affects hydrology, vegetation, and erosion patterns. In SPM, the rise of sea level may deteriorate a number of key biodiversity areas such seal and seabird coastal breeding sites. On terrestrial species of the sub-Antarctic, climate change translates in a decrease of some endemic plants and an increase of IAS. In the marine environments of both hemispheres, climate change impacts primary production and causes a decrease in abundance and availability of fish resource for “at-risk” seabirds and marine mammal species(7).
- Native species of the sub-regions are especially sensitive to Invasive Alien Species (IAS), especially in sub-Antarctic islands, which are oceanic and highly isolated. Some IAS, including carnivorous and herbivorous vertebrates and invertebrates, have tremendously impacted terrestrial and marine ecosystems and native populations, such as seabirds breeding on land, forests, eelgrass beds, mollusks and crustaceans.
- Pollution is also a threat primarily on pristine habitats, particularly marine systems, which emphasizes the need to maintain this standard and manage potentially harmful developments, e.g. Hydrocarbon exploration (GL) and mining (GL).
- Overharvest was historically an important pressure on biodiversity in all sub-regions of the hub. In the sub-Antarctic, whaling, sealing as well as illegal over-fishing have historically greatly impacted some marine mammal populations and fish stocks (8). Although such activities all ended, the recovery of some populations is still underway. Nowadays, commercial fisheries are still operating and are highly monitored and regulated, although some specific potential impacts such as by-catch, seabird mortality and interactions with marine mammals, still require close assessment. In GL, although a wide variety of conservation actions have been implemented for Arctic wildlife, such pressures persist to some extent on poorly known species(9). In SPM, the overfishing on cod is well known to have brought the archipelago to a commercial dead point. The fishing technics used have also brought the sub marine ecosystem to an extreme degraded situation. The situation is still the same as those ecosystems with their species (cod, cold deep sea corals...) have been so much impacted. SPM longs to find a new developing economic way.
Current investments SPM: Several projects to establish protected areas have been launched since 2006: i) inventory of the ZNIEFF (natural areas of particular interest in terms of ecology and wildlife) over the entire territory, ii) classification of the Grand Barachois lagoon as a RAMSAR site, iii) decrees for the protection of breeding grounds of specific seabird species on the Colombier islands(10). GL: In addition to the Greenland National Park (1974), which is the largest National Park in the world, GL has 11 other protected areas and 12 RAMSAR sites. Since the establishment of a Nature Protection Act (2003), GL has implemented regulations on the use of living resources and has initiated various executive orders for protection of specific species. In addition, a national project supported by DANCEA is currently in process to identify biodiversity hotspots in Greenland in a report in 2015(11). TAAF: The creation of the National Nature Reserve of the French Southern Lands in 2006 has resulted in the development of a global management plan (2010) including various long-term actions (2011-2015) for conservation(12): i) To reduce the impacts of human activities, ii) to help threatened populations to recover, iii) to reduce IAS, and iv) to enhance knowledge on species of the Reserve. Current investments also include measures to reduce the impacts of fisheries on biodiversity, such as incidental seabird mortality, by-catch and loss of fishing gear. SGSSI: There are 13 Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) within SGSSI. Current ongoing work includes the eradication of all introduced vertebrate species (rats and reindeer) from the island(13). BAT: There are 26 Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) within BAT(14)
Critical areas for action/Investment niches - Investigation into the long term effects of climate change; especially in key
exploited fisheries as well as the breakdown of natural barriers (e.g. glaciers) in terrestrial systems;
- Enhancement of knowledge on IAS and eradication/control programmes, effects of such on native flora and fauna;
- Recovery/restoration of endangered populations/endemic species/habitats; - Establishment/extension of protected areas as appropriate - Development of necessary data on MPAs; - Establishment of long-term monitoring of native species to examine
population trends and contributing factors; - Development of knowledge on poorly known marine taxa; - Development of a RED LIST for the fauna and flora on islands, integrating
(1) Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles - FINAL REPORT - January 2015 - PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT - SECTION C – NORTH ATLANTIC REGION – OCTA UE (2) Loi n°55 -1052 du 6 août 1955 Loi portant statut des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises et de l'île de Clipperton. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/loi_55-1052_statuts_taaf.pdf (3) Greenland in Figures 2014, Statistics Greenland http://www.stat.gl/publ/en/GF/2014/pdf/Greenland%20in%20Figures%202014.pdf Plan de gestion de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises – Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/telechargez_la_synthese_du_plan_de_gestion_20112015_de_la_reserve.pdf South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Areas http://www.sgisland.gs/download/MPA/SGSSI%20MPA%20Consultation%20Oct%202012.pdf Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles - FINAL REPORT - January 2015 - PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT - SECTION C – NORTH ATLANTIC REGION – OCTA UE (4) http://www.seaaroundus.org/eez/ (5) J. Petit & G. Prudent. (2007). Climate Change and Biodiversity in the European Union Overseas Entities. IUCN, ONERC https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2010-064.pdf Plan de gestion de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises – Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/telechargez_la_synthese_du_plan_de_gestion_20112015_de_la_reserve.pdf (6) IUCN 2014. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Liste des espèces protégées des Terres Australes et Antarctiques françaises – Oiseaux et mammifères marins. http://www.taaf.fr/Liste-des-especes-protegees Forth National Report on the Implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity of Greenland http://dce.au.dk/udgivelser/udgivelser-fra-dmu/div/2008/abstracts/roedliste_gr_uk/ Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles - FINAL REPORT - January 2015 - PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT - SECTION C – NORTH ATLANTIC REGION – OCTA UE (7) J. Petit & G. Prudent. (2007). Climate Change and Biodiversity in the European Union Overseas Entities. IUCN, ONERC https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2010-064.pdf (8) Lord, C., Duhamel, G., & Pruvost, P. (2006). The patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery in the Kerguelen Islands (Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean). CCAMLR Science, 13, 1-25. http://www.ccamlr.org/en/system/files/science_journal_papers/01lord-etal.pdf (9) http://www.arcticbiodiversity.is/ (10) Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles - FINAL REPORT - January 2015 - PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT - SECTION C – NORTH ATLANTIC REGION – OCTA UE http://www.uicn.fr/IMG/pdf/Espaces_proteges-Partie-6.pdf PASE Report - State Strategic Action Project: http://www.saint-pierre-et-miquelon.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/le-pase-projet-daction-a193.html jobs http://www.saint-pierre-et-miquelon.pref.gouv.fr/content/download/1486/8053/file/PASE%20Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon%202012.pdf (11) http://naalakkersuisut.gl/da/Naalakkersuisut/Departementer/Natur-og-Miljoe/Naturafdelingen/Oversigt-over-fredede-omraader Overseas Countries and Territories: Environmental Profiles - FINAL REPORT - January 2015 - PART 2 – DETAILED REPORT - SECTION C – NORTH ATLANTIC REGION – OCTA UE (12) Plan de gestion de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises – Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/telechargez_la_synthese_du_plan_de_gestion_20112015_de_la_reserve.pdf Mesures de gestion des populations d’ongulés introduits – Plan de gestion de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises. http://www.taaf.fr/Mesures-de-gestion-des-populations-d-ongules-introduits-422 National Plan of Actions for the Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis 2011-2015. Ministère de l’Ecologie, du développement durable et de l’Energie. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/pna-aa-engweb.pdf (13) South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Strategy 2010-2015 South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Areas http://www.sgisland.gs/download/MPA/SGSSI%20MPA%20Consultation%20Oct%202012.pdf South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Rodent Eradication http://www.sgisland.gs/download/Rodent%20eradication%20preparation%20and%20evaluation%20-OTEP%20report.pdf (14) British Antarctic Survey http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/index.php (15) National Plan of Actions for the Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis 2011-2015. Ministère de l’Ecologie, du développement durable et de l’Energie. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/pna-aa-engweb.pdf (16) Plan de gestion de la Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres Australes Françaises – Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises. http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/telechargez_la_synthese_du_plan_de_gestion_20112015_de_la_reserve.pdf
